Computing device providing electronic book data having selectable content layers with different difficulty levels and related methods

ABSTRACT

A computing device may include a display, a memory to store electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level, and a processor coupled to the display and the memory. The processor may determine a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and display on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level,

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/034,935 filed Feb. 21, 2008, which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/902,582 filed Feb. 21, 2007, all of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to electronic books, in particular to interactive electronic book operating systems and methods, such as for use with scientific, engineering and any other technical topic books.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Electronic books have been growing in popularity in recent years primarily in hardware applications, and have limited interactive features. A major problem with electronic books is that the electronic books are limited to displaying general fiction and non fiction topics and are not useful for displaying and education students in science, engineering and other technical topics.

Still another problem with electronic type books is that they generally have a single screen with a flat image, that does not have the look and feel of classical books, and typically limited to one or two-page displays. Another problem with electronic books is that the computer screen (both desktop and laptop types) does not replicate a full page of a book, and instead has part of it.

Various types of systems and methods have been proposed for using portable devices to display publications. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,485 to Munyan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,158 to Uranka; U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,502 to Schwab; U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,928 to Lilienthal; U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,425 to Krauklis; U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,026 to Sommerer; U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,159 to Baker; U.S. Pat. No. D449,606 to Lee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,524 to Padgett; U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,828 to Chombo; U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,678 to Heutschi; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,781 to DeMello et al.

The Munyan '485 patent describes a personal electronic book system that requires extensive hardware to operate. The Uranka '158 patent describes techniques for customization for each user on a portable media in combination with use of the network with the focus on identifying and displaying information. The required customization techniques for each publication does not allow for unifoitnity of displaying printed publications.

The Schwab '502 describes an elaborate hardware driven hand-held digital data reader (hinged electronic book with two-face to face touch-screens) that functions like an electronic book and requires side thumb buttons on the side of the books and not on any of the pages.

Lilienthal '928 describes a portable device that displays and plays audio and video content like a DVD player but is not easily usuable to read books.

Krauklis '425 describes a system and method of managing scalable list of items for display on a portable device and not for easily displaying and manipulating books.

Sommerer '026 describes a system for managing a balanced view of generated pages on an electronic device with a rolling pair of lines basis.

Baker '159 describes a system for presenting book marks for small devices such cell phones and PDAs for use on small screen displays and not for regular sized books.

Lee '606 shows a hardware design of a “portable electronic book” that appears to resemble a laptop with removable cover and not for displaying full pages of open books.

Padgett '524 describes a talking book with microphone that is generally limited to recording and playing an audio recordings.

Chornbo '828 describes a hardware system of a hinged two display electronic book having various size buttons controls and does not have an efficient operating system.

Heutschi '678 describes a electronic touch screen devices for a display of electronic book that is connected to the network.

General proposals have been made for electronic books that usually require specific hardware components that may allow for displaying simple fiction and general nonfiction type content, but are not applicable at all for technical books, and the like. Such technical books like those used in various sciences, mathematics, engineering and the like, are not able to be used with the prior art. Thus, the need exists for solutions to the problems with the prior art, namely, the need for a software platform that handle the display and interactive interaction of readers with the technical book contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an overview of a main screen of an open digital book on a computing device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for implementing page flipping.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for implementing Dynamic Indexing.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show different steps associate with clicking a search icon.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F show a dynamic index feature.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for implementing a Dynamic TOC (Table of Content).

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C shows manage table of contents management features

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for implementing Bookmarks.

FIG. 9A shows adding a bookmark.

FIG. 9B shows searching for bookmarks.

FIG. 9C shows editing/deleting book marks.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for implementing Customized Color Themes.

FIG. 11A shows a list of customized color themes.

FIG. 11B shows a selected color theme for the above-mentioned color change.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for implementing Floating Pages.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show creating a floating page.

FIG. 13C shows managing floating pages.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for implementing Highlighting.

FIG. 15 shows the highlight feature.

FIG. 16 is flowchart for implementing sticky Notes.

FIG. 17A shows creating a sticky note.

FIGS. 17B and 17C show managing a sticky note.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for implementing Page Browsing at different flipping speeds.

FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C show page browsing at different flipping speeds.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for implementing clickable Chapters and Sections on Frames.

FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C show clickable chapters and sections on frames.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for implementing Page Hiding.

FIGS. 23A and 23B show use of the page hiding feature.

FIG. 24 shows description attachment feature.

FIG. 25A is a flowchart for invoking the Tutor Me module.

FIG. 25B is a flow diagram continuation from FIG. 25A showing additional steps in the QuizMe module.

FIG. 26 shows separate window activated for QuizMe.

FIG. 27A is a flowchart for a Tutor Me feature.

FIG. 27B is a flowchart for comparing the terms for the inserted equation in Tutor Me.

FIG. 27C is a screenshot for an error message for incorrect sign in Tutor Me.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart for implementing a background clock.

FIG. 29 shows clock display activated.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for implementing a Dynamic Cover Page.

FIG. 31 is a seed generator icon activated for selected seed value or random value.

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram showing an example of step for implementing a symbolic circuit solver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an example embodiment, interactive electronic book operating systems and methods may allow an interactive electronic book to replicate the appearance of a classical book having two pages on each screen that is useful for displaying books of all types from fiction to nonfiction and technical and professional books.

In another example embodiment, an interactive electronic book operating system and methods may provide the look and functionality of a printed book in tactile feel and visual appearance, and can be used with books having all types of subject matter ranging from fiction, nonfiction, technical and professional books.

In yet another example embodiment, an interactive electronic book operating system and methods may provide hardware independence, cross-platform capable, flexible operating system for the “technical book of the future” for engineering and science fields.

In still another example embodiment, an interactive electronic book operating system and methods may provide an extremely rich book effect that brings images and symbolic equations and other elements into a very high interactive representations.

In another example embodiment, an interactive electronic book operating system and methods may provide a friendly student-instructor learning environment that simplifies the technical concepts and learning material by allowing immediate numerical solutions of complex equations. Therefore this operating system serves an excellent platform for design tools for engineering and science students and professionals.

In still another example embodiment, an interactive electronic book operating system and methods may provide relatively easy interfaces with new learning elements through interactive java applets.

More particularly, a computing device may include a display, a memory to store electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level, and a processor coupled to the display and the memory. The processor may determine a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and display on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.

The electronic book data may comprise at least one problem to be solved, and the different content difficultly levels may comprise different difficulty levels for the at least one problem. The at least one problem may comprise at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem, for example. In an example embodiment, the at least one problem may comprise at least one electrical circuit problem, and the different content layers may comprise different numbers of circuit branches, different arrangements of the circuit elements, different directions of current flow through circuit branches, etc.

The different content layers may provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another, for example. The computing device may also include an input device coupled to the processor to select the content difficulty level.

A related method for using a computing device, such as the one described briefly above, is also provided. The method may include storing electronic book data in the memory, where the electronic book data has a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level. The method may further include determining a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and displaying on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a computing device, such as the one described briefly above, may have computer-executable instructions for causing the computing device to perform steps including storing electronic book data in the memory, where the electronic book data has a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level. The steps may further include determining a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and displaying on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying exhibits,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

An identification of the components will now be described.

-   1. Main screen of digital book -   2. left page screen -   4. right page screen -   6. flip page backward icon on left page -   8. flip page forward icon on right page -   10. left frame (backward flipping to different book     chapters/sections) -   12. right frame (forward flipping to different book     chapters/sections) -   14. upper horizontal toolbar -   16. dynamic index icon -   18. TOC (table of content) icon -   20. bookmark icon -   22. color themes icon -   24. floating pages icon -   26. highlight icon -   28. sticky notes icon -   30. supplemental images/material display icon -   32. hiding icon -   34. key points option feature -   36. attachment icon -   38. quiz me icon -   40. Lecture Me icon -   42. Tutor Me icon -   44. Show Me Design icon -   46. Practical Relevance icon -   48. Seed generator icon -   50. Solution methods buttons. -   52. Levels buttons. -   54. Symbolic/Numerical switching button. -   100. Flip page flowchart -   200. Dynamic Indexing Flowchart -   300. Dynamic TOC (Table of Contents) Flowchart -   400. Bookmarks Flowchart -   500. Customized Color Themes Flowchart -   600. Floating Pages Flowchart -   700. Highlighting Flowchart -   800. Sticky Notes Flowchart -   900. Page Browsing Flowchart -   1000. Implementing Chapters and Sections on Frames Flowchart -   1100. Page Hiding Flowchart -   1200. QuizMe Flowchart -   1300. Tutor Me Flowchart -   1400. Background Clock Flowchart -   1500. Dynamic Cover Page Flowchart -   1600. Opened page for Seed Generator Icon

The invention is referred to in the figures and text as the novel interactive electronic book operating system and method, the invention or in many of the figures as the eBook.

The invention is a hardware and software independent system and methods that can be used with various computer based systems, and preferably, any computer-based system that runs the JAVA® Virtual Machine. The invention can operate on computer based platforms that include portable and hand held laptop type computers. The invention can operate on computer based platforms that include traditional desktop computers. A preferable screen for the computer based platform can allow for images of both left and right pages of open books to be easily readable on the screen. Additionally, the invention can work with a screen showing one open page of the digital book. The operating system of the invention allows for digital books, preferably those types of educational text books having science, engineering and other technical topics to be viewed in their entirety on the single screen. The technical and science and engineering books preferably can include those that teach electrical engineering fields such as electronics, circuits, controls, signal processing, filters.etc. Additionally other scientific and technical digital books can be viewed on the digital screen, such as nonphysical and physical topics that include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, digital design, biology, anatomy, and the like, and all disciplines of engineering from industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, and the like.

The novel operating system has up to approximately 23 features as described below in reference to FIGS. 1-23.

FIG. 1 is an overview of a main screen 1 of the open digital book having a visible left page screen 2 and a visible right page screen 4, with unique icons arranged in tool type bars above, below and on the screen itself. While FIG. 1, shows the clickable type icons arranged in a preferred example, the invention can work with the clickable type icons located on different parts of the page images of the digital book itself, which will be described further on in relation to other figures below.

1—Classical Book Look and Feel #1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 100 FIGS. 1-2.

The invention has the capability of inserting all objects as defined by scientific, engineering and technical book publishers. The user/reader can navigate forward 8 and backward 6, FIG. 1, and can enter an object ID (identification) and the book can directly render the object in the viewable two pages along with the objects in front/behind of that object. The book frames can reflect the current position of the book viewing by varying their thicknesses. Unlike most electronic books, the content of a book can be spread across in pages, and the user navigates through the book simply by flipping the pages the same way as a classical book having real pages.

1.1 Size (8.5″×11″)

The book will be implemented as resizable window. A preferable screen size will replicate up to 8.5″×11″ or larger.

1.2 Frames

Sides of the book (See Feature 12 below)

1.3 Page Navigation #6, 8 FIG. 1.

Flip forward and Flip Backward are implemented for two object types (text, image and other complex objects):

-   -   Implement navigation for other object types (Circuits, Examples,         Tables, etc.)     -   Implement a random location flipping (compared to sequential         flipping), like in bookmark or index.         See FIG. 2 for the flowchart implementation. Please note that         the speed of page flipping will be given in Feature 10 below.         1.4 3-D effects (Page Thickness, visual effects as the page is         being flipped, etc,. Increase/decrease of frame's thickness         based on current flipping location.

1.5 Write/Scratch/Underline on the Pages

Free style writing, saves the scratches when the user leaves the page, “erases” scratches from the page.

Referring to 6, 8, 10, 12, 100 FIGS. 1 and 2, the content of the books can be spread across in pages and the user can navigate through the book by simply flipping the pages the same way they would do so if it was a classical book. The book images also reflects in 3D (three dimensional) effect the thickness 10, 12, FIG. 1 of the pages at both sides according to the page opened. Similar to classical books, this book images allows the ability to write, scratch or underline on any place on the book page images.

2—Dynamic Index with Hyperlinks 16, 200 FIGS. 1, 3, 4A-4C, 5A-5F

This feature initially was meant to resemble the Index at the end of scientific books. FIG. 3 shows the flowchart for its implementation. The interactive electronic book operating system and method supports two distinctive features:

-   -   1. Search for word: does not imply saving search results, if the         user wish to instantly find a phrase she remembers from book,         the search is the best choice. The results will be shown in a         list view, but it would take some time to perform full text         search in the novel invention content. The novel interactive         electronic book operating system and method can also allow the         user to restrict his search to specific chapter/section, and         support also wildcard characters (? for single and * for many).         This feature is memory-less, once the user close the search         results, the search may be erased.     -   2. Index word: The user has the option to save the search for         future use; it gives faster access to the word exactly as Index         does. Once the search results are indexed, they will be recorded         into the database and the user can access them quickly in         subsequent searches.         Referring to 16, 200 FIGS. 1, 3, 4A-4C, 5A-5F, rather than         having a static index precompiled for a digital book, this         feature allows the user to right click on any word within the         text and add it to the index. The moment the word is added to         the index, the invention engine searches the whole text for that         word and associate links to the places in the index. Links can         show bubbles with brief descriptions once the cursor moves over         it.

2.1 Search

The simulated images for the search features are shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C. The Search sub-features are listed below in reference to 16 FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4A-4C;

-   -   2.1.1. The user can open the search window and enter a search         string (text and wildcard characters) to look for a word; the         search can be restricted to specific chapter, section and         currently shown pages. Full search of the novel interactive         electronic book operating system and method, has to be performed         and any occurrence of the word should be recorded into the         database for future access.     -   2.1.2. Users will be warned not to index common words (the, a,         is, has, have, do etc.). Also, default index created by the         publishers (Mesh, loop, Voltage, Current, power, etc.) will be         created.     -   2.1.3. The search window is basically a List View that contains         the section/chapter of all hits, along with the context of each         hit to give the user a clue if this is what he is looking for.     -   2.1.4. Once the user double clicks on any hit, the novel         interactive electronic book operating system and method can open         the page that contains that hit and highlight the occurrence for         the user.     -   2.1.5. The user can “save” this search into the invention Index         by clicking a button (Index this word) that appears on the         search List View. The novel interactive electronic book         operating system and method has to add the word to the Index         list and store all hits into the database so that the subsequent         accesses can be accomplished faster.

2.2 View and Search Index (1) (shown in reference to FIGS. 5A-5F)

-   -   2.2.1. User can Click (Index) to show an alphabetic-ordered List         View (As seen at the end of scientific books) of all the indexed         words. (FIG. 5A)     -   2.2.2. The user can filter on a specific letter (drop down box         or links to all alphabetic letter) to cut the view into that         specific letter only. The user can also search for a word in the         index itself. (FIG. 5B)     -   2.2.3. Once the user double clicks a word in the Index, the same         search window described in Section 2.1.3 will be displayed, and         the action described in 2.1.4 will be enabled also. (FIG. 5C)     -   2.2.4. The user can delete the word from the index by selecting         it and clicking the (delete) button. We might prevent the user         from deleting any word from the publisher's index (to be         discussed). (FIG. 5D)     -   2.2.5. Import/Export Index will be implemented. (FIG. 5E)     -   2.2.6. Add back and forward arrows to get back to the original         location while navigating through the search results. This is         because the user might need to get back to where he originally         was before performing the search. (FIG. 5F).

Referring to 16, FIGS. 1, 3, 4A-4C, 5A-5F, rather than having a static index precompiled for a digital book, the novel interactive electronic book operating system and method allows the user to right click on any word within the text and add it to the index. The moment the word is added to index, the invention engine searches the whole text for that word and associate links to these places in the index. Links can show enlarged bubbles with brief descriptions once the curser moves over.

3—Dynamic Table of Content 18, 300 FIGS. 1, 6 and 7A-7C)

The novel interactive electronic book operating system and method has to read its “viewable” content dynamically from the current Table of Content (TOC) Profile. FIG. 6 shows its flowchart to carry out implementation. This profile can be loaded by default at the launch of the novel operating platform; it will remain as default profile unless the user wants to change it.

The invention can use the word profile to refer to the dynamic TOC, although we might consider expanding the term (profile) to refer to all the user settings and preferences remembered by the novel operating platform (Colors, themes, TOC, etc.)

The sub-features are listed below 3.1 to 3.5:

3.1 View Profiles (1)

The user can click on “Manage profiles” to open a List View of all profiles, the preview should be a Master/Detailed one, where the first list shows the profiles (Name, Description, Creation Date, Last Modified, etc.), and the detailed view shows the TOC details once the user selects a specific profile. See FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C.

3.2 Delete Profile (1)

The user can select a profile and delete it, this will delete the metadata stored to describe what to show from the novel electronic book operating platform content, and it will not touch the data though. There must be a Default profile defined that cannot be deleted and which contains the whole book material. Profiles which are defined by the authors should be protected and the user cannot delete them

3.3 Add/Update Profile (1)

This enables the user to Add/Remove content to/from the viewable contents of the novel interactive electronic book operating system and method.

3.4 Set as eBook Profile (1)

Selecting a profile and clicking (Set as eBook profile) makes that profile the active one, the database of the invention has to be updated to reflect the new profile.

3.5 Import/Export Profile (1)

The user can Export a TOC profile into an external file (.TOC), and can import it into other stored books. The information of the TOC will be added to the Master/Detailed List View and can be handled as described above. Each .TOC file must target specific book (circuit, electronics, DSP, etc), so it has to store a reference to the book that “exported” it. Referring to 18, 300 FIGS. 1, 6 and 7A-7C, having inherently layered adaptive content, the content of a digital book can be customized by the user either by selecting predefined profiles (“Table of Contents”), or by customizing any profiles by adding or removing any of the available set of content. For example, if the digital book is an Electronic Circuit Book about electronic circuits, electrical engineering students can be exposed to more details, sections and chapters than a mechanical engineering student would be from the same textbook.

The user can also import the customized table of content being exposed by another user. This feature is mainly helpful in the sense that the instructor designs their course by customizing the table of content of the book, and then exports it into a file that then later imported by their students to reflect the syllabus of the course.

4—Bookmarks 20, 400 FIGS. 1 and 8, and 9A-9C

Bookmark groups (baskets) can be defined by the user to refer to logical grouping of her bookmarks (Things to remember before the exam, Things to ask the teacher in office hours, etc.). Bookmarks can be added to each bookmark basket. FIG. 8 shows a preferred flowchart to carry our implementation of bookmarks. Sub-features are described as follows in 4.1-4.4:

4.1 View Bookmarks (1) (FIG. 9B)

A master/details view for all the bookmark baskets (master view) along with their bookmarks (details view). Clicking on a bookmark 20 FIGS. 1 and 9A should take the user to the location of the bookmark. The bookmarks can be sorted by name or location.

4.2 Manage Bookmark groups (1) (FIG. 9C)

From the view described in 4.1, the user should be able to Add/Delete/Update bookmark baskets.

4.3 Add Bookmark (2) (FIG. 9A)

While browsing the book, the user can add bookmark anywhere by placing it over any text or image, or any other object. The invention prompts the user to decide into which basket the bookmark should be added, and whether it is hidden or viewed (to be discussed).

4.4 Delete Bookmark (1) (FIG. 9C)

The user can delete the bookmark from the Bookmark list view described in 4.1. Referring to 20, 400 FIGS. 1 and 8, and 9A-9C, the user can bookmark a part of the page, a complete page, or multiple pages. The bookmarks can be organized in groups. Then the user can go to a certain bookmark group and view whatever content they added to that group. A good example of the usage of such a setup can be a bookmark group for exam review where the user adds all important material to be reviewed before the exam.

5—Customized Color Themes 22 500 FIGS. 1, 10 and 11A-11C

The invention supports generally predefined themes that fit all moods and all personalities. For example, we can support classical book theme in which Black-White-Gray degrees are used, other modern themes for young students, something for girls will be cool as well, and so on.

The invention feature for customized color themes will support dynamic color and font changes. FIG. 10 shows its flowchart to carry our implementation.

Referring to 22 500 FIGS. 1, 10 and 11A-11 C, the font, background, headers, and all items' colors and themes can be customizable and can be changed on the fly to suit the users desires and needs.

6—Floating Pages 24, 600 FIGS. 1, 12, and 13A-13C.

Floating pages is a feature that requires intensive graphical effort to make it look impressive. The internal logic is fairly simple provided that the floating pages are only copies of the original image. There is no mean of (cutting) a page from the book and putting it beside, while photocopying a page makes more sense. The browsing in the invention will remain the same. An important note here is that the rendering of pages might not be the same every time. Thus, taking a floating page out does not mean that it will happen the same way every time in the invention itself. Floating pages can be saved into the Data Base (DB) for later use when needed.

Sub-features of the floating pages are discussed as follows in 6.1-6.4:

6.1 Take Out a Floating Page (1)

The user can take out the right or left page and make it floating page, this will create another page instance (keeping the book as it is). The user can move the floating page as another window, as a movable image rendered over the eBook, etc.). FIG. 12 shows its flowchart to carry our implementation.

6.2 Save Floating Page (1)

The user can click and save a floating page so she can open it in later runs of the invention

6.3 Delete a Floating Page (1)

The user can delete any floating page.

6.4 Organize Floating Pages (1)

This is the floating page container (clipped together), here the user can browse them, unclip anyone of them and take it out, hide/show, etc.

Referring to 24, 600 FIGS. 1, 12, and 13A-13C, as the user might need to keep part of a page open and visible but at the same time navigate through the other pages to see related content, the user can select the page they want to keep visible to float on top of the book. Followed by navigating through the book while keeping that page floating on top. These floating pages can be grouped in a clip that handy for viewing at any point while reading through the book. Moreover, these floating pages can be shown or hidden on demand.

7—Universal Support

The invention is hardware and software independent and can be run with any computer based system that preferably runs the JAVA® Virtual Machine. For example, the novel operating system framework of the invention can be run on any platform capable of running a light LINUX® kernel, including IPOD®, and the like.

8—Highlighting 26 700 FIGS. 1, 14 and 15.

This feature is very similar in its requirement to the Bookmark feature, except that it lacks the idea of baskets, and adds the complexity of highlighting MULTIPLE objects (compared to bookmarking single location only).

8.1 Highlight Text (1)

The user may select text and highlight it, and the text can span multiple objects. More than one highlighting color may be used (defined by the theme as described previously in Feature 5). All the highlights in the invention can be controlled by a show/hide highlights option, this way the user can view his book without the highlights whenever he wants to.

8.2 Delete highlight (1)

Once the Highlighted text is clicked, it should give an indication to the user that it is selected now. The user can change its color, and can delete it.

Referring to 26 700 FIGS. 1, 14 and 15, the user can highlight any part of the text, image, or item, or any combination of these parts of the digital book.

9—Sticky(Adding) notes 28, 800 FIGS. 1, 16 and 17A-17C.

Notes are a small colored “piece of paper” that can be stuck into objects (text, image, etc.) and allow free editing. The purpose of this feature is to give the user the ability to write her notes and attach them to the proper place. FIG. 16 shows the flowchart to carry our implementation.

9.1 Create note (1) (FIG. 17A)

The user may create a note, pick colors (predefined per theme), and stick it to any object in the book. The note can be expanded/collapsed, and can be moved from one place to another.

9.2 Delete Note (1) (FIG. 17B, 17C)

The user may delete a note.

9.3 Manage notes (1) (FIG. 17B, 17C)

One main screen that shows a list of all notes defined in the invention. The user can delete/update notes from there, and can also double click a certain note to render the book opened on the page that contains the note.

Referring to 28, 800 FIGS. 1, 16, 17A-17C, the user can write notes and fix them to any place on the book for later reference and use.

10—Page Browsing at Different Flipping Speeds 6, 8, 900 FIGS. 1, 18 and 19A-19C.

The longer icons 6, 8 are held down (clicked on), the faster the backward or forward page flipping speed occurs. Two sub-features are described here 10.1 and 10.2:

10.1 Page Flipping with Visual Effects (FIGS. 19A-19B)

This feature animates page flipping to look like a real book. The full transition of the page (right to left/left to right) may be smooth and realistic. FIG. 18 shows a flowchart for an example implementation.

10.2 Increasing Flipping Speed (1) (FIG. 19C)

Upon holding the click at the edge of the page, the flipping speed has to increase until it reaches a certain limit.

10.3 Clickable Section Titles

As the user moves the cursor over the edges of the pages at the book left and right frame sides, and according to the page over which edge the cursor is at, the title of the section appears to allow the user to click to open the corresponding section.

Referring to 6, 8, 900 FIGS. 1, 18, 19A-19C, there are different ways the user can flip pages. If the cursor moves over the corners of the book, the page corner is lift up a little bit indicating that it is ready to be flipped. And then if the user clicks on that corner, one page is flipped forward or backward depending on the corner the cursor is at.

If the hardware that is running the book operating system has a pad-like mouse, similar to the mouse pad available in on most laptops, if the cursor is close to one of the book corners, then the page can be flipped by simply emulating the classical page flipping by the finger tip being swiped over that pad to the flipping direction.

If the cursor is on one of the book page four corners and the user clicks on the page to be flipped as described above, but instead of releasing the clicking once the first page is flipped, then after a short time (approximately one second for example), three pages can be flipped in the same direction. Then if the clicking still on, then another group of pages is flipped and so forth. The number of pages being flipped in this fashion increases exponentially as the user keeps holding the clicking continuously down.

11—Supplemental Image Display 30 FIG. 1

Referring to 30 FIG. 1, continuous images can be varied to correspond to the topic displayed in a given page. Supplemental images (additional teaching) references for elaborating and further teaching/illustrating of topics, can be hidden or viewed as selected. The supplemental images can be added to the content anyplace in the digital book. Being auxiliary and non-core material, the user can select to show or hide this material at any point for additional teachings and illustrations of the topics.

12—Frame Shows Clickable Sections 10, 12, 1000 FIGS. 1, 20 and 21A-21C.

Right and left frame should be divided into equal spaces, each representing a chapter from the book, once the user hover the mouse over that region, the invention has to pop-down a list of sections of that chapter. The sections are clickable and allow fast access to book content. The granularity of the view has to vary between fine-grain (sections) and coarse-grain (chapters), we believe that we have to directly (on the frame) show the sections of the currently opened chapter. But for the other chapters, we will just pop-down a menu upon hovering the mouse over the frame, and in this menu we will show all sections. FIG. 20 shows a flowchart to carry our implementation. An image on the screen can show overlapping pages edges 10, 12, that when clicked on allow the user to go to different sections and chapters.

Referring to 10, 12, 1000 FIGS. 1, 20 and 21A-21C, as the user moves the cursor over the edges of the pages at the book left or right frame sides, and according to the page over which edge the cursor is at, the title of the section appears on which the user can click to open the corresponding section.

13—Hide Some Parts of the Open Pages 32, 1100 FIGS. 1, 22, 23A and 23B

The user can use a “hand” icon to hide any part of the page in order to allow users to memorize, review, or recall the hidden content. FIG. 22 shows a flowchart for an example implementation.

Referring to 32, 1100 FIGS. 1, 22, 23A, 23B, this feature is analogous to using the actual hand of a reader to cover a part of the book to pick the mind and self-test, the user's information. The invention enables hiding parts of the pages to emulate the human hand effect.

14—Things you Should Remember 34 FIG. 1.

This feature has to be implemented as other content (text, image, etc.) as specified by the authors and publishers of the digital book being used.

Referring to 34 FIG. 1, as the user is about to leave a section or a topic, the invention displays a message that contains key points that the user needs to remember having finished reading through that topic. The icon can activate key points that the user can automate. The user can also selectively choose a listing of key learning points at the end of each section.

15—Attach Files to eBook Content 36 FIGS. 1, 24.

The user may also to attach any file (video, image, presentation, etc.) to invention objects. Subsections 15.1 to 15.3 describe this feature.

15.1 Attach File (1)

The user can be able to attach a file to any object in the book. An indication beside the object should reflect that there is an attachment associated with it.

15.2 Delete attachment (1)

The user can be able to delete an attachment.

15.3 Manage Attachments (1)

This is a screen that shows a list of all attachments in the entire digital book. The user can delete/update/run attachments from there, and can also double click a certain attachment to render the book opened on the page that contains the note.

Referring to 36 FIGS. 1, 24, it is possible for the user to attach any file to the digital book and pinpoint it on any location throughout the pages of the book. An example of this feature is to attach a presentation, PDF type document, datasheet, video, or audio that pertains to the topic in that page or section.

16—Quiz Me 38, 1200 FIGS. 1, 26, 27A

The Quiz me module is a stand-alone application that can be used with or separately from the rest of the invention.

Referring to 38, 1200 FIGS. 1, 25-26, on the toolbar there can be link to start a quiz. The quiz can consist of a certain number of multiple choice type problems for the user to solve within a certain selected time period. A timer can be displayed to show the quiz time elapsed. Questions can be displayed to the user in tandem one at a time. A feedback can be provided to the user at the end of the quiz session.

17—Lecture Me 40 FIGS. 1, 26

The Lecture me module can be a stand-alone application that will be used with or separately from the rest of the invention. The lecture materials can consist of video, audio, animation, and the like.

Referring to 40 FIGS. 1, 26, on the toolbar there can be link to start a lecture. The lecture can be pre-saved video and audio content of a lecture about the topic being selected.

18—Tutor Me 40, 1300 FIGS. 1, 25-27C.

Referring to 40, 1300 FIGS. 1, 25-27C, the user can be alternatively given a password or is allowed to enter an anonymous mode that allows for the user to receive a separate tutor session. The tutor session can combine the lecture and quiz me features 16 -17 described above. The user can be tested for their input to a problem and compares the answer against possible solutions, where the user needs to answer the problem or reach an error threshold value (limited number of answer responses) before the correct solution is displayed. Additional problems can pass through similar steps until the user is finished being tutored in a topic or section or chapter as needed.

The system is designed to take the student's imputted equations, analyze them, expand them, and chop them into terms that would be easy to compare against the correct terms. The code is designed to make a term by term comparison and display the adequate error message. In the comparison, several errors are accounted for such as: “wrong sign”, “wrong term”, “too many terms”, “missing a term”. By giving these specific error messages, the students would be able to detect the exact areas they are having problems in. For example, if a “wrong sign message” is given, the user might want to check on the assumed current directions or voltage polarities. Furthermore, after imputing the wrong term for five times or more, the user will be given the option of viewing the correct answer.

18.1 Graphical User Interface FIG. 32

A Graphical User Interface was developed as the input of the Symbolic Tool using the JAVA SWING library. It consists of a drawing window with a grid where the user can draw an arbitrary circuit by placing predefined component on the drawing area and connecting between them, thus creating the circuit. As mentioned in the introduction the GUI is web ready and can be run remotely from within a browser. It has various useful capabilities such as drag/drop of components, rotate components, make wire connections and so forth. Also appropriate values can be chosen for each element and if any errors exist the user is notified. On the right side of the drawing area there are bottoms that either Zoom in or out the circuit schematic, or obtain the Netlist. Likewise the drop down menu above the drawing area houses standard editing tools and Simulation & Analysis menu which invokes the Symbolic Circuit Solver.

The Netlist parser component analyses the constructed circuit which in this case is represented in memory by a well-structured object hierarchy and translates it into a Netlist in CirML format, which is the format used by SPICE. The Parser also has the capability of transforming the CirML Netlist back into a well-structured object hierarchy, meaning that the used can enter the Netlist first then obtain the circuit schematic from that Netlist. Simplification procedures are implemented so as to optimize the for of the Netlist and remove any redundancy from the result.

The Symbolic Circuit Solver component is the core of the Interactive Linear Circuits Symbolic Simulation Tool. It is subdivided into several subroutines which when applied in succession to a Netlist yield the Symbolic time response. The flowchart of FIG. 32 starting from third execution bloc shows an outline of what each subroutine does. After simulation is requested by the user through the Simulation & analysis menu the Netlist Parser passes the Netlist into a class that uses the list data to populate the Indefinite Admittance Matrix for the circuit. Then an algorithm is used for obtaining the transfer function between any two ports through computing the determinant and different cofactors of the aforementioned matrix. The Indefinite Admittance Matrix is populated like any regular admittance matrix. The only difference is that the ground reference node is considered to be outside the circuit. Note that all entries are in the frequency domain since a dynamic response is desired.

Then depending on which outputs the user chooses to compute the symbolic results for, the program computes all required determinants an cofactors symbolically. The algorithms are adjusted to manipulate symbolic objects rather than just numerical values. Determinants were implemented using the method of LU factorization since it is fast and efficient which is a big advantage for a simulation tool, and it was actually discovered that this part is not a bottleneck for the simulation, unlike later parts where large symbolic results may need to be manipulated. All transfer functions are modeled as objects and are reduced to a standard rational s-function (Laplace domain) form before being displayed. The next step extracts the roots of the s--function denominator, it is well known that the values and number of the roots depend on the coefficients and order of the circuit (number of storage elements) respectively. Those same coefficients are of course functions of the circuit parameters (admittances, Capacitance and inductance values, etc.). at this point the numerical values of the circuit components are substituted into the transfer functions since it is impossible to get roots in closed symbolic form for polynomial equation larger than fifth order (Abel-Ruffini Theorem).

The Java class that implemented the above algorithm returns all roots with the multiplicity for each one. It then hands the root date to another module that applies

Residue theorem to essentially obtain the partial fraction expansion of the transfer function.

All partial fraction objects are then fed into the Symbolic Inverse Laplace transform module which constructs the final required time response. The GUI provides tools for graphically plotting such responses with respect to time or just plotting the frequency response.

In order to create the adequate code that would compare the student's equations against the correct equations for a given circuit, the flowchart displayed in FIG. 27B has been created. As the flow chart explains, the program starts by checking the number of terms of the inserted equation and gives the corresponding error message if that number does not equal the correct equation's number of terms. The following step is checking for legitimacy of the terms' signs and then the validity of those terms. Using the flow chart created for the program, a code has been created to compare each term of the inputted equation.

19—Show me Design 44 FIG. 1

The Show me Design module can be a stand-alone application that can be used with or separately from the rest of the invention. The design materials will correspond to the topic being discussed.

Referring to 44 FIG. 1, if the book is a technical book where design problems are valid, the toolbar can contain a link to start a design case(i.e. images, text, equations, circuits of the design) to ossify the main concepts of the topic.

20—Show me Practical Relevance 46 FIG. 1

The Show me Practical Relevance module can be a stand-alone application that can be used with or separately from the rest of the invention. The practical application presented will correspond to the topic being discussed.

Referring to 46 FIG. 1, if the book addresses a topic that has a practical relevance, the toolbar can contain a link that starts a practical relevance case along with images, datasheets, and documents from the real-world.

21—Clock Running in the Background 1400 FIGS. 28-29

This clock (FIG. 29) is very expandable, and can save the times across multiple runs and show it beside times for the current run, and we can show times per chapter/section/example/etc. FIG. 28 shows a flowchart to carry our implementation.

Referring to FIGS. 28-29, a clock can run in the background to estimate the time spent on each section as a sort of student assessment. According to this assessment, the level of the quiz problems can be effected.

22—Dynamic Cover Page 1500 FIG. 30

Dynamic cover pages for the invention and its sections can be predefined with meaningful messages to deliver for the user. The invention can pick the predefined cover and display it based on the collected statistics. FIG. 30 shows a flowchart 1500 to carry our implementation.

Referring to 1500 FIG. 30, the invention keeps track of the latest browsed through topics with the weaknesses and strengths of the user it collects by the quizzes and the time spent per topic. Accordingly, the cover page shows images, messages, and measures that change every time the user opens their digital book.

23—Seeded Content 48, 1600 FIGS. 1, 31.

Since the invention is highly interactive with continually present randomized values for the examples, drill problems, practical and design examples, quizzes and end-of-chapter problems, uniformity of values may be established when needed. Hence, we can assign seeds that correspond to fixed values through out the invention. This feature is very helpful to instructors who desire that all students to study the same content (assigned numerical values) and tackle the same problems.

Referring to 48, 1600 FIGS. 1 and 31, the teacher/instructor can assign different numbers (seeds) to the end of a chapter/section problems so that the class can have consistent answers.

Alternatively, each of the students can be assigned separate seeds to prevent copying of answers and prevent cheating during assignments.

In addition to assigning uniform seeds, the invention can allow for random generated seeds be given to the students so that no two students can generate the same answers to problems, and the like.

24—Other Features 50, 52, 54 FIG. 1.

The idea is to construct the page with multiple layers containing analysis of a topic with different difficulty levels, and methods of solving the same problem in a given level. The purpose is to give flexibility to the user and benefit a large diversity of students as far as the level of their understanding of the material and to see how a given problem is being solved. At any point of the analysis, the user can switch to a different difficulty level problem by a click of a button.

Each layer or level contains children layers representing different methods for the solution. For instance, the user can switch between figures A and B to view the effect of changing the current or voltage directions. Furthermore, the student can choose to view either the symbolic or numerical solution for each example as shown below: The electronic textbook is a well organized tool with the following features:

-   -   1. Difficulty Levels: Discussion within the text which covers         four levels of difficulty as shown in FIG. 1 exhibit 52.     -   2. Solution Methods: Examples which cover up to four levels of         difficulty with each level will include up to four different         techniques of solutions labeled as: A, B, C, D as shown in FIG.         1 exhibit 50.     -   3. Each technique is solved symbolically and numerically as         shown in 54 FIG. 1.     -   4. Rolling Images: Each level includes sets of images with the         same elements but different placements and arrangements. Arrow         buttons permit the switching between those arrangements.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A computing device comprising: a display; a memory to store electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level; and a processor coupled to said display and said memory to determine a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and display on said display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.
 2. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the electronic book data comprises at least one problem to be solved; and wherein the different content difficultly levels comprise different difficulty levels for the at least one problem.
 3. The computing device of claim 2 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.
 4. The computing device of claim 2 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem; and wherein the different content layers comprise different numbers of circuit branches.
 5. The computing device of claim 2 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem including a plurality of circuit elements; and wherein the different content layers comprise different arrangements of the circuit elements.
 6. The computing device of claim 2 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem including a plurality of circuit branches; and wherein the different content layers comprise different directions of current flow through the circuit branches.
 7. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another.
 8. The computing device of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled to said processor to select the content difficulty level.
 9. A method for using a computing device comprising a display and a memory, the method comprising: storing electronic book data in the memory, the electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level; determining a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data; and displaying on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic book data comprises at least one problem to be solved; and wherein the different content difficultly levels comprise different difficulty levels for the at least one problem.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem; and wherein the different content layers comprise different numbers of circuit branches.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem including a plurality of circuit elements; and wherein the different content layers comprise different arrangements of the circuit elements.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem including a plurality of circuit branches; and wherein the different content layers comprise different directions of current flow through the circuit branches.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a computing device comprising a display and a memory, the non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the computing device to perform steps comprising: storing electronic book data in the memory, the electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level; determining a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data; and displaying on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the electronic book data comprises at least one problem to be solved; and wherein the different content difficultly levels comprise different difficulty levels for the at least one problem.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one of a scientific problem, an engineering problem, and a mathematics problem.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the at least one problem comprises at least one electrical circuit problem; and wherein the different content layers comprise different numbers of circuit branches.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the different content layers provide cumulative layers of complexity with respect to one another. 